A devotion in 24 days – Day 12.

We Gather Together – Unknown 1625, Translated from German: Theodore Baker, 1892

Scripture:

I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm[c] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn’s author is unknown to them, and so this artificial “person” entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to “Author Unknown” “Unknown” or “Anonymous” could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. This hymn was originally a Dutch patriotic song, written around 1625 to celebrate the freedom of the Netherlands from Spanish rule.

1 We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

2 Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Whose kingdom calls all to the love which endures.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:
You, Lord, were at our side; all glory be yours!

3 We all do extol you, our leader triumphant,
And pray that you still our defender will be.
Let your congregation escape tribulation:
Your name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!